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First Debates: Four Corners - Hot Topic
Learning Objectives
Deliver speech from prepared notes.
Support assertions with reasoning and evidence.
Time Needed
~20-30 min
Resources & Materials
Paper (2-3 sheets per student)
Pencil/pen (1 per student)
Labels/Signs (1 for each corner of the room)
Teacher Preparation
- Label the four corners of the room as follows:
- Agree
- Disagree
- Neutral (Who Cares?)
- Persuade Me
Lesson Outline
- Four Corners (Introduction)
- Ask students to brainstorm 2-3 “hot button” issues they would feel comfortable speaking about. Write ~10 topics on the board.
- For less experienced students, topics should NOT be political. Instead they but should be fun, popular topics
- Example: Pop Star X is overrated.
- For less experienced students, topics should NOT be political. Instead they but should be fun, popular topics
- Ask students to brainstorm 2-3 “hot button” issues they would feel comfortable speaking about. Write ~10 topics on the board.
- Four Corners (Speeches)
- Announce a topic. Begin with the most “controversial.”
- When a topic is announced, students should go to the corner that aligns with their feeling towards the topic.
- Agree: I strongly agree with the topic (Pop Star X is overrated).
- Disagree: I strongly disagree with the topic (Pop Star X is awesome).
- Neutral (Who Cares?): This topic does not matter.
- Persuade Me: I could be persuaded either way.
- Each student should prepare a short (~45 second) speech justifying their position. Then, select a student from each corner (Agree/ Disagree/ Neutral) to give a speech to the squad.
- Write each argument on the board. Emphasize the ARE structure.
- Persuade Me students will vote after each corner has spoken.
- The student whose group receives the most “votes” should receive a suitable reward (e.g., candy).
- Watch for students who only choose the “Persuade Me” corner.
- When a topic is announced, students should go to the corner that aligns with their feeling towards the topic.
- Continue until each student has had a chance to speak.
- Announce a topic. Begin with the most “controversial.”
Points of Improvement
Speeches are either excessively short or excessively long.
Speeches mostly contain assertions, with little reasoning/evidence.
Signs of Mastery
Speeches have clear organization.
Speeches contain all parts of ARE.
Instructor Notes
For more experienced students, consider topics related to the policy debate resolution.
Ensure each student has a chance to speak. Don’t allow one or two students to dominate!
Ask follow-up questions. Prompt students to follow ARE!